After Daniel Penny not-guilty verdict, calls mount for DA Alvin Bragg to 'resign in shame'
By: Aneeta Bhole (New York Post)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Calls for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to be booted from office intensified over the controversial prosecutor's decision to take Daniel Penny to trial in Jordan Neely's chokehold death — after the jury's bombshell not-guilty verdict Monday.
Republican lawmakers slammed Bragg for taking on the case — claiming the borough's top prosecutor had done so for political purposes — with one even urging the US Department of Justice to launch an investigation.
"You can't do this to American heroes," Texas GOP Rep. Chip Roy said on Fox Business' "Cavuto Coast to Coast," adding he wanted the incoming Trump administration DOJ to probe "civil rights abuses" against Penny and "hold New York accountable."
"The fact that an American jury stood against the crazy, tyrannical lawlessness of the New York prosecutor's office, and Alvin Bragg, and stood up and said that this man, this American hero, should be let free. God bless," Roy said. "That means things are heading in the right direction."
The Manhattan DA has long been the target of critics of his soft-on-crime reputation, including for his criminal case against President-elect Donald Trump, which resulted in his conviction on 34 felony charges. Bragg has also faced heat over his prosecution of bodega worker Jose Alba, whose fatal stabbing of a violent intruder was ultimately dismissed as self-defense.
"Alvin Bragg has failed in his responsibilities to enforce the law and keep New Yorkers safe. Sadly, he has engaged in political prosecutions on numerous cases, including President Trump, Daniel Penny and Jose Alba," Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) said in a statement Monday. "He should be removed from office immediately."
Joining the calls was state Assemblyman Michael Tannousis (R-Staten Island), who charged that Bragg "wasted taxpayer dollars" by filing charges against Penny.
"Penny was wrongfully accused and slandered to better serve the DA's skewed agenda. New Yorkers stood up against the unlawfulness and dishonesty," the lawmaker said. "If only Alvin Bragg actually did his job and protected New Yorkers the city would be a lot safer than it is today."
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman called Penny "a hero, not a villain," and hailed the 12-member Manhattan jury for seeing through "all the political nonsense."
City Councilman Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) said the case "underscores nothing other than the perverse sense of justice held by Alvin Bragg."
"The district attorney should resign in shame."
Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (R-Brooklyn) added a sarcastic note: "I'm sure that DA Alvin Bragg will be more than eager to prosecute anyone rioting in light of this verdict as swiftly and as harshly as he did to Daniel Penny."
Bob Holden, a Queens Democratic council member, said that with "case after case," Bragg "demonstrates contempt for reality and common sense — pursuing heroes like Daniel Penny while allowing criminals to roam our streets."
"For the sake of New Yorkers, the governor must remove him," he said. "This cannot continue."
Gov. Kathy Hochul previously faced calls from Republicans to remove the Democrat-elected DA from office, including after a group of migrants charged with beating cops in Times Square were initially released without bail.
Her office did not return a request for comment Monday.
Bragg said in a statement after the verdict that prosecutors "followed the facts and the evidence in the case" and that he accepted the jury's decision.
Speaking to reporters, Mayor Eric Adams denounced the mounting calls for Bragg to resign or to have Hochul remove him.
"No, she should not remove DA Bragg," Adams said. "The people voted for the district attorney. We have a process and I am totally against using mechanisms to overstep the boundaries of the electeds.
"We've had a great partnership with the district attorney and some of the things we have done in the city and we look forward to doing that."
Trolling, taunting, spamming, and off topic comments will be removed at the discretion of group mods.
NT members that vote up their own comments, repeat comments, reply to themselves or continue to disrupt the conversation risk having all of their comments deleted.
Quote the person(s) to whom you are replying to preserve continuity of this seed.
Calling members "trolls", "dishonest", references to "MAGA", fascism, memes, personal insults and death wishing will result in your comment being deleted.
All of NT's rules apply
Tags
Who is online
296 visitors
The Penny trial was a clusterfuck that should have never been put before a judge or jury.
Penny was tried for a death he had no part in all the while Jordan Williams (who stabbed another subway rider in June) had his charges dropped. Wonder what the difference between Penny and Williams were.
I can agree with this. The simple fact is that the DA position is an elected position and unless he actually broke the law he should not be removed.
But the finance sheets from his office should be public records in the next election so that the people who vote can see how much money he has cost them in cases where the public interest was not served.
That's a good guarantee that the likes of Bragg won't be re-elected.
Lots of unhappy racists over this. Except for "Rev" Al who I am sure will make some money from this verdict.
The low IQ idiots have already started their bullshit:
""We need some Black vigilantes," New York BLM co-founder Hank Newsome said following the verdict. "People want to jump up and choke us and kill us for being loud? How about we do the same when they attempt to oppress us?""
I am sure Bragg had him arrested for inciting violence. S/
I'm sure that bumbling idiot was inside listening and cheering on these low IQ imbeciles.
He's a menace to justice.
This clown wasted millions on a witch-hunt to "get Trump" that blew up in his face because of its overt partisanship and this trial. All the while his broken brained "prosecutors" brag about "restorative justice" to justify undercharging violent felons.
I’m quite satisfied with the outcome of the case. Based on what I see from afar, the result seems like the right decision. I think activists who have characterized this case as part of some larger conspiracy against homeless people are wrong.
But just because I side with one or party or another in a case, that is not just grounds for saying that there should be no prosecution at all. “Defense of others” is a recognized defense to assault or homicide charges, but the courtroom is commonly the place to make that defense.
It bothers me when people say we shouldn’t go through the process.